This case study is a summarized sample of our AI powered Desk Research technology.
In rural areas of Kenya, girls’ education is hampered by poverty, cultural norms favoring boys, early marriage, and limited access to quality schools and menstrual hygiene facilities. Many girls drop out due to household duties and long distances to schools, perpetuating a cycle of inequality and hindering their economic prospects.
Overview
A quick glance at the main challenges in the space.
Poverty
For communities like Ruth’s in Kajiado county, poverty is one of many factors preventing girls’ re-enrolment in school and continuity of education.
Early pregnancy
Kenya has a re-entry policy that allows pregnant girls to stay in school but research shows there is weak implementation, monitoring, and enforcement of this policy.
Lack of quality educational institutes
Poor-quality teaching and large class sizes affect the quality of children’s learning. The pupil-to-teacher ratio remains very high in some counties, such as 77 to 1 in Turkana.
Gender Stereotypes and Cultural Norms
Cultural norms dictate that girls must assume domestic roles, restricting their access to education and future job opportunities.
Data Dashboard
| 20% | 61% | 32% | 32% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secondary school completion for girls aged 15-19. | Literacy rate for women in rural areas. | Primary schools with adequate sanitation facilities for girls. | Girls married by the age of 18. |
| Coachability Foundation | Kenya National Bureau of Statistics | UNICEF | Kenya Demographic and Health Survey |
Stakeholders
Aid Agencies, NGOs, governmental actors and other stakeholders working on education in Kenya.
| Name | Type | Country | City | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live and Learn in Kenya | NGO | Germany | Selb | Active |
| Garden of Hope Foundation | NGO | Kenya | N/A | Active |
| Street Child | NGO | United Kingdom | London | Active |
| Education Partnerships Africa (EPA) | NGO | United Kingdom | London | Active |
| World Vision International | NGO | United Kingdom | London | Active |
| WISER | NGO | United States | Durham | Active |
| USAID | Aid Agency | United States | Washington | Active |
| AFD | Aid Agency | France | Paris | Active |
| UNICEF Kenya | Aid Agency | Kenya | Nairobi | Active |
| Ministry of Education | Government | Kenya | Nairobi | Active |
| Ministry of Gender, Culture, the Arts and Heritage | Government | Kenya | Nairobi | Active |
Projects
Projects, programs and policies related to female education in Kenya.
| stakeholders | name | activity / outcomes | year |
|---|---|---|---|
| USAID | ASPIRE | Education for female role models – 523 female role models conducted guidance and counseling sessions with 6,221 adolescent girls in Machinga and Zomba districts. | 2018 |
| stakeholders | name | activity / outcomes | year |
|---|---|---|---|
| UN Women | N/A | Higher education of women – Two grantees joined the University of Iceland Gender Equality Studies and Training Programme (GEST), which promotes research on gender equality and women’s empowerment in fragile and middle-income countries. | 2019 |
| stakeholders | name | activity / outcomes | year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Girl Child Network, UNESCO | N/A | Increase girls’ access to education in Kenya’s hardest-to-reach areas. – UNESCO Prize laureate for Girls’ and Women’s Education in 2020 – Nearly 100 cases of early marriage were prevented, enabling girls to continue their education. | 2020 |
| stakeholders | name | activity / outcomes | year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Village Impact | N/A | Providing access to one-on-one and group psychological counseling. – Empowered 600 vulnerable girls in Naivasha, Kenya to complete high school. | 2022 |